LOGK FB Post re Sanctuarioes in Churches & Fines

"ICE issuing fines to immigrants who have taken sanctuary in churches..."

Is this what America stands for?

So is there a better, most just way to handle the current immigration "crisis"?

Should we defer to the words of religious figures and sacred texts in our treatment of immigrants?

- Mohammed & The Koran?

- Jesus & New Testament

- Moses & The Old Testament (Tanakh)

As a former City of Philadelphia police officer, I'm all for locking up and deporting criminal aliens, especially violent felons.

I'm also for an effective illegal immigration control policy which discourages blatant violation of our immigration laws, including attempts to ignore or circumvent valid non-appealable denials of applications for asylum or permanent residence and related deportation orders.

But what about law-abiding (aside from the immigration violations) and hard working illegal immigrants and their minor children who would contribute positively to their communities and our country if they were allowed to legalize their presence in the U.S.?

Who would you rather see in your neighborhood? Hard working law-abiding illegal immigrants (out of immigration status) working for legitimate tax-paying U.S. businesses or voluntarily unemployed Americans with criminal records (even ongoing activities), substance addiction problems (drugs/alcohol) and/or abusing public assistance?

Obviously, for various reasons, including National Security, we cannot have uncontrolled immigration or porous unsecured borders.

So how do we (a) encourage the immigration (and, if necessary, prevent the deportation) of hard-working, law-abiding migrants with the rights skills & work ethic that will help America stay competitive in today's global economy, while (b) keeping our borders secure without turning away a reasonable number of legitimate asylum seekers fleeing political & religious persecution in their home countries and (c) not compromising our morals and/or faith, namely the principles of brotherly love, compassion and mercy?

What do you think?

But before you comment, please read these posts by The Law Offices of Gregory Krasovsky (and the articles referenced therein):

On current ICE raids

https://www.facebook.com/krasovsky911/posts/2434625310108659

On Legality and Morality

https://www.facebook.com/krasovsky911/posts/2415993031971887

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The Law Offices of Gregory Krasovsky

Tel: +1-202-558-5287

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Site: www.krasovskylaw.com

Immigration Law - http://krasovskylaw.com/individuals/immigration-law.html

Criminal Defense - http://krasovskylaw.com/individuals/criminal-defense.html

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NEW SANCTUARY COALITION

Standing in Solidarity with Families and Communities since 2007

# ICE RAIDS

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ASKING FOR CONGREGATIONS IN THE NYC AREA TO COMMIT TO "SHORT-TERM SANCTUARY"

This week, "Short-Term Sanctuary" would practically mean:

- Display the attached "S" symbol in your windows, on your doors, and on your church signs, so that Friends who are looking for a safe space in your neighborhood can find your building and know that they can come inside and be shielded from ICE.

- Equip your congregation with the attached "How to be a Buddy" cards and educate your congregation in what they mean.

- Offer the "Beyond Your Rights" and "I Know My Rights!" cards to any Friend who seeks safe space at your church.

- Be willing to shelter Friends who come to your space for a day or two (short-term, not long-term), while you contact New Sanctuary Coalition at 903-884-4357 or 908-791-5309, so that we can help them with longer-term arrangements, legally and beyond.

- Consider the more expansive packet "How to Be a Sanctuary Congregation," with understanding that "Short-Term Sanctuary" is all your congregation is committing to in this immediate moment.

Essentially, for NSC, "Short-Term Sanctuary" is defined as follows:

"Taking Sanctuary in a house of worship may be useful for a short time (a few hours, one day, or a short overnight stay) to help the immigrant feel safe and become calm rather than panicked, and to get information on what to do next, so they can make good plans. This usually would happen in the event of immigration raids or acts of hate occurring in the area. Immigrants also face day-to-day struggles that faith communities should be ready to address through short-term sanctuary."

https://www.newsanctuarynyc.org/

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Few signs of expected mass immigration raids

CBS News

JULY 15, 2019

Churches step in

Religious leaders across the country used their pulpits Sunday to quell concerns in immigrant communities and spring into action to help those potentially threatened by the operation.

With Sunday as the anticipated start, churches have been trying to strategize a response.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, wrote a letter to Archdiocese priests this month saying, "Threats of broad enforcement actions by ICE are meant to terrorize communities." He urged priests in the Archdiocese - which serves over 2 million Catholics - not to let any immigration officials into churches without identification or a warrant.

The Rev. Robert Stearns, of Living Water in Houston, organized 25 churches in the city to make space available to any families who wanted to seek sanctuary while they sorted out their legal status. A dozen churches in the Los Angeles areas also declared themselves sanctuaries.

Attendance at church services on Sunday varied.

In Los Angeles, the Rev. Fred Morris looked out over his congregation at the North Hills United Methodist Hispanic Mission and was relieved to see everyone who usually attends the early Sunday morning service. He had worried many would stay home, fearing Trump's threat of immigration sweeps.

"Everybody is nervous," Morris said. "They are angry, very angry at being terrorized by our president."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/few-signs-of-expected-mass-immigration-raids/

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Philly church providing sanctuary to undocumented family speaks out against ICE raids

JUSTIN UDO

JULY 14, 2019 - 1:20 PM

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia church that is currently providing shelter to an undocumented family speaks out on the latest round of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the country and the church's struggle to help keep the family from being deported.

One of the first things you hear during Sunday service at Germantown Mennonite Church is that "No matter who you are or where you are from, you are welcome here,"

And the church takes what they say seriously.

For the last seven months, they have provided sanctuary housing for Carmela Hernandez and her four children, who are under the threat of deportation.

The family lives at the church - a place ICE doesn't typically raid - in fear of being sent back to their home country of Mexico, where they say several of their loved ones have been killed by gangs.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/philadelphia-church-providing-sanctuary-undocumented-family-speaks-out-against-ice

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CHURCHES JUMP INTO ACTION WITH THREAT OF IMMIGRATION SWEEPS

By: The Associated Press

Published: July 14, 2019 5:26 PM

CHICAGO - As a nationwide immigration crackdown loomed, religious leaders across the country used their pulpits Sunday to quell concerns in immigrant communities and spring into action to help those potentially threatened by the operation.

A Chicago priest talked during his homily about the compassion of a border activist accused of harboring illegal immigrants, while another city church advertised a "deportation defense workshop." Dozens of churches in Houston and Los Angeles offered sanctuary to anyone afraid of being arrested. In Miami, activists handed out fliers outside churches to help immigrants know their rights in case of an arrest.

"We're living in a time where the law may permit the government to do certain things but that doesn't necessarily make it right," said the Rev. John Celichowski of St. Clare de Montefalco Parish in Chicago, where the nearly 1,000-member congregation is 90 percent Hispanic and mostly immigrant.

While federal immigration officials were mum on details, agents had been expected to start a coordinated action Sunday targeting roughly 2,000 people, including families, with final deportation orders in 10 major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Miami.

...

The renewed threat of mass deportations has put immigrant communities even more on edge since Trump took office on a pledge to deport millions living in the country illegally. While such enforcement operations have been routine since 2003, Trump's publicizing its start, and the politics surrounding it, are unusual. Trump first announced the sweeps last month then delayed to give lawmakers a chance to address the southern border.

With Sunday as the anticipated start, churches have been trying to strategize a response.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, wrote a letter to Archdiocese priests this month saying, "Threats of broad enforcement actions by ICE are meant to terrorize communities." He urged priests in the Archdiocese — which serves over 2 million Catholics — not to let any immigration officials into churches without identification or a warrant.

...

https://www.wsbradio.com/news/churches-jump-into-action-with-threat-immigration-sweeps/FO46QM4hiWz4Sxwqbf3VqK/

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ICE issuing fines to immigrants who have taken sanctuary in churches

By STEPHANIE EBBSandANNE FLAHERTY

Jul 2, 2019, 6:36 PM ET

President Donald Trump is moving ahead with his threat to fine people living inside the U.S. illegally.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has confirmed that it has been delivering notices to undocumented immigrants that they owe hundreds of thousands of dollars, an amount lawyers representing them say would be impossible for them to pay.

ICE has had the authority to issue civil fines for decades, but didn't begin using it until last December. Officials trace the move to an executive order Trump signed upon entering the White House that called for collecting fines from people who ignore deportation orders, as well as from those who "facilitate their presence."

The agency said the can legally fine immigrants with an order to leave the country up to $799 dollars for each day that they have refused to comply.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ice-issuing-fines-immigrants-sanctuary-churches/story?id=64094018

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ICE Threatens Guatemalan Woman Who Sought Sanctuary In Church With $214,000 Fine

07/09/2019 03:42 pm ET

The potential fine is an example of the “psychological terror” ICE inflicts on migrants like Maria Chavalan Sut, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church’s pastor says.

Federal authorities are threatening to fine a Guatemalan migrant more than $214,000 after she sought sanctuary in a Virginia church, the church’s reverend told HuffPost.

Maria Chavalan Sut received a mailed notice of “Intent to Fine” from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last Tuesday, according to Rev. Isaac Collins of Charlottesville’s Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Chavalan Sut moved into a converted Sunday school classroom at Collins’ church in September after ICE ordered her to leave the country.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ice-guatemalan-woman-sanctuary-church-fine_n_5d24aebde4b07e698c415aa1

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ICE levels nearly $500,000 fine on undocumented immigrant living in sanctuary

July 5, 2019

The Trump administration is trying something new to crack down on illegal immigration: fines. Edith Espinal took sanctuary in an Ohio church in 2017, and her attorney says she recently received a letter from ICE saying she owes $497,777 in fines.

https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/ice-levels-nearly-500-000-fine-on-undocumented-immigrant-living-in-sanctuary-63318597696

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Trump administration threatens hefty fines on immigrants who elude deportation

By Maria Sacchetti

July 2

The Trump administration is threatening to impose hundreds of thousands of dollars in civil penalties on immigrants who disobey deportation orders by seeking refuge in churches or elsewhere in the United States, federal officials said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Washington headquarters on Monday notified a woman seeking sanctuary in a North Carolina church that the agency intends to fine her more than $300,000. An immigrant in Colorado faces a fine of more than $500,000.

The agency generally does not conduct enforcement operations in churches, and although financial penalties for evading deportation have been on the books for years, they were rarely imposed.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-administration-threatens-hefty-fines-on-immigrants-who-elude-deportation/2019/07/02/956e2334-9cc2-11e9-9ed4-c9089972ad5a_story.html?utm_term=.5829eeddb602

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Colorado immigrant seeking sanctuary imposed penalty for not leaving the United States

Ingrid Encalada Latorre received a notice of the penalty for $4,792

Joe Amon, The Denver Post

UPDATED: July 4, 2019 at 12:12 am

One Colorado immigrant seeking sanctuary in a church has received a notice from Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the intent to fine her almost $5,000 for not voluntarily leaving the United States after a deportation order.

The Trump administration threatened to impose these fines on immigrants who seek sanctuary in locations where ICE does not conduct enforcement operations, such as churches. Although the penalties are not new, imposing the financial penalties has been rare, according to reporting by the Washington Post. The notice of the fines comes days after the president delayed until after July 4 immigration raids targeting people with deportation orders.

Ingrid Encalada Latorre, a Peruvian mother of two who has been in sanctuary at churches along the Front Range for several years, received her notice on Monday, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition said in a Wednesday news release.

Encalada Latorre is in sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Boulder, according to Jennifer Piper of the American Friends Service Committee. She first sought sanctuary at the church in December 2017.

Encalada Latorre’s notice, signed June 25, imposed a $4,792 fine, which was “adjusted for inflation,” according to a copy of the document provided by the immigrant rights group. Encalada Latorre was ordered by a judge to depart the United States by May 15, 2016, according to the document.

Another Colorado immigrant is expected to receive a fine of more than $500,000, according to the Washington Post. That person has not been identified.

...

In response to questions about the fine, Alethea Smock, an ICE spokeswoman, emailed a list of government regulations that allow the agency to fine immigrants who do not comply with deportation orders.

In a statement from the group on her behalf, the coalition said Encalada Latorre thought her fine was “exceptionally large,” but later found out that it’s one of the smaller fines being imposed.

“This is unconscionable…,” she said in the statement. “We’ve never seen an administration add a fine onto the punishment of deportation, which is already inhumane. After three years of no word from them, they send me this letter with only 30 days to pay and it’s a lot of money for me.”

The fine is an intimidation tactic and is unjust, Encalada Latorre said. She expects more to come from the Trump administration.

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/03/colorado-immigrant-sanctuary-ingrid-encalada-latorre-ice/

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Ordered Deported, Then Sent a $497,777 Fine From ICE

The New York Times

By Elizabeth Dias

July 4, 2019

Edith Espinal spends her days praying, reading and, when feeling brave, taking short accompanied walks outside the Mennonite church in Columbus, Ohio, where she has been living for 21 months. Church leaders have been protecting Ms. Espinal, who crossed illegally into the United States more than two decades ago, while she fights a deportation order.

But earlier this week, the church secretary handed Ms. Espinal a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement that said she had “willfully” refused to leave the country, had “connived or conspired” to prevent her deportation, and would owe the government nearly half a million dollars.

“We don’t have this amount of money,” Ms. Espinal, 42, said Wednesday of the $497,777 bill. “I never imagined they’d send it to us.”

Ms. Espinal was among several undocumented immigrants living in houses of worship who this week received similar notices, the latest measure taken by the Trump administration in its crackdown on illegal immigration.

...

Citing the Immigration and Nationality Act, ICE officials said the agency has the right to impose civil fines, up to $799 a day, on undocumented immigrants who have been ordered removed, or who have failed to leave the country. Officials said the agency began issuing such notices in December, though it was not clear on Thursday how many had been sent.

“ICE is committed to using various enforcement methods — including arrest, detention, technological monitoring and financial penalties — to enforce U.S. immigration law and maintain the integrity of legal orders issued by judges,” said Carol Danko, an agency spokeswoman.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/us/migrants-deportation-fines.html

...

At St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, Tex., Hilda Ramirez Mendez also received a notice this week that she was under final order of removal and would be fined $303,620. She has been living for a while at the church with her 13-year-old son, whose special immigrant juvenile status application is pending. She was denied asylum in 2015, and although ICE initially allowed her to stay, her deferred action status was not extended in March, said her lawyer, Stephanie Taylor.

...

In Charlottesville, Va., at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Maria Chavalan received notice that she would be fined $214,132. She has been living at the church since September, hoping to attain asylum as a member of a protected ethnic community in Guatemala.

...

And in North Carolina, at Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship, Rosa Ortez Cruz, a mother of four, received a letter that said she would be fined $314,007. Ms. Ortez Cruz, 38, is in removal proceedings after an altercation with her then-teenage son led to misdemeanor criminal charges to which she entered an Alford plea, meaning she pleaded guilty but maintained innocence, according to her lawyers. She has been living in a church since last spring.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/us/migrants-deportation-fines.html

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Previous posts on immigration, including detention & deportation of illegal aliens and their children:

2019-07-14

On current ICE raids (July 14, 2019)

https://www.facebook.com/krasovsky911/posts/2434625310108659

2019-06-19

On Legality and Morality

https://www.facebook.com/krasovsky911/posts/2415993031971887

2019-06-18

Re Alien Deportations

https://www.facebook.com/krasovsky911/posts/2415062638731593